The Government of India has defended the recent ₹10,000 increase in airfare for Haj pilgrims travelling to Saudi Arabia, stating that the revision was necessitated by a sharp rise in aviation fuel costs amid ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia. The clarification was issued by the Ministry of Minority Affairs on Thursday, following criticism from opposition leaders and concerns among prospective pilgrims.

Union Minority Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju said airlines had initially demanded a much higher fare increase of around USD 300–400 per passenger due to rising Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF) prices. He stated that the government intervened through negotiations to reduce the hike significantly, bringing it down to USD 100 per pilgrim. According to him, this intervention was aimed at protecting pilgrims from a far heavier financial burden while ensuring that the annual Haj operations remain viable.

Rijiju further explained that the increase in ATF prices was driven by ongoing instability in the West Asia region, which has impacted global fuel markets. He emphasized that airlines cannot be entirely blamed for the surge in operational costs, as fuel constitutes a major component of international airfare pricing. He added that the government’s objective was to balance affordability for pilgrims with the operational realities faced by carriers.

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In an official statement, the Ministry of Minority Affairs described the decision as a necessary step to avoid disruptions in Haj 2026 arrangements, which are expected to involve over one lakh registered pilgrims. The ministry said the revised fare includes an additional USD 100 per pilgrim, regardless of the embarkation point, and was finalized after consultations with stakeholders, including airlines and the Haj Committee of India. It also noted that private tour operators had already implemented higher fare increases in recent weeks.

The Haj Committee of India circular confirmed that the revised airfare was approved due to “pressing requests” from airlines, which cited a rise of over USD 400 in base fares linked to increased fuel costs. Pilgrims have been instructed to pay the additional amount by May 15 to complete their travel arrangements. The committee said the decision was taken to ensure transparency and continuity in pilgrimage operations.

However, the move has triggered political backlash. Asaduddin Owaisi criticised the hike, calling it unfair to pilgrims, many of whom save for years to undertake the religious journey. He demanded immediate withdrawal of the circular and refund of additional charges, alleging that ordinary pilgrims were being financially burdened. The controversy has added a political dimension to the issue as the government maintains that the revision was unavoidable under current global conditions.

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